Think of this thrilling 10-game, 8-4 Yankees victory over the Rays on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field, the kind of win that can establish a hitherto hesitant team as the baseball equivalent of the “Ocean’s Eleven” remake.
Aaron Boone’s bunch gave birth to an impressive feat. However, the Yankees are eagerly awaiting their next meeting.
Because if the Yankees prevented a Rays sweep, they didn’t stop igniting this rivalry thanks to their pitchers who hit four Tampa Bay batters over the weekend, once every Friday and Saturday and then twice on Sunday.
“It happens on virtually every show with them, and it’s something we have to stop,” said Rays’ Austin Meadows, “because being a hitter and having that in your mind isn’t a good feeling.”
At the bottom of the first half of the half, Meadows took a quick 93 mph ball to Jordan Montgomery on the front shoulder, infuriating him on the Rays dig and causing the referees to warn both banks against any other violence. However, Montgomery hit Meadows again in the fifth inning, this time on his left hand (back), although the UMP tightened up and decided to let the Yankees stay in the game due to lack of intention; The rays did not oppose this afterwards.
No, what left the Rays salty was the volume of HBPs and the recent general history of violence between these two clubs, which Tampa Bay considers to have been unilateral – since early 2018, including last year’s American League Division Series. The Yankees hit 30 Rays, while the Rays hit 17 Yankees – and were not treated properly by the sports sheriff.
“I personally think the guy was trying to hit him?” No, ”said Rays manager Kevin Cash, referring to Montgomery’s first HBP of Meadows. “It simply came to our notice then. Last year he was so badly manipulated by Major League Baseball. … There is no appeal, because it is only postponed and, intentionally or not, most of the players in the major league will look at you and say: “She is not feeling well and I do not care if she did it intentionally or not.’ ”
Cash added: “Major League Baseball is here to protect its players from both teams. To all 30 teams. And I don’t think they did that last year. He could have done a better job and maybe [then] let’s get over it. ”
As for MLB’s alleged “mishandling,” Cash admitted to referring to the Yankees’ approach, Aroldis Chapman, who received a simple three-game suspension (which was shortened on appeal to two) for throwing back Mike Brosseau’s head last September 1: a doubt. And I know [Masahiro] Tanaka went to Japan, but escaped unscathed. He hit Joey [Wendle] certainly intentional [the same night] and there is nothing we can do about it. ”
The Yankees, relieved to execute this victory from behind (twice), did not express words of struggle about the situation. Montgomery said, “We weren’t trying [hit Meadows], … but I understand that the referees are trying to control the situation, I think. “
“Certainly no intention, but I understand their anger,” said Aaron Boone. “You see Meadows is hit around the shoulder, I would be upset on our side, whether it is intentional or not. I think it was clear that Monty was really struggling to find his order there in the first two innings and got rid of him. “
Their anger spread everywhere. Mike Zunino, the Rays catcher, said of the four hits in the series (according to the Tampa Bay Times, Marc Topkin): “If it’s a coincidence, it’s crazy, it happened three days in a row.”
Asked how Rays could “stop” this, Meadows said: “For us, I think we do a good job as a team of not retaliating, just by continuing to play the game and letting our game speak. And it’s probably a good strategy. ”
The rays are Terry Benedict to the Danny Ocean of the Yankees. They will return to the Bronx on Friday night. At a time when so many feel the sport is too long and inaction, baseball should be grateful to the Yankees-Rays (though yes, maybe more police to make sure things don’t get out of hand). control).